Athlete Interview - Brook Jacobsma, MOC-Floyd Valley HS

Athlete Interview
Brook Jacobsma, senior, MOC-Floyd Valley HS, Orange City
PR’s:  SP – 38’8”, D – 140'3”

1.      When & how did you get started in track & field?

Orange City holds one of the Hershey track and field meets every year for younger kids. I really wanted to be a part of this because I thought competing in the softball throw would be fun. This sparked my passion for throwing. Then in middle school when I could be a part of the school track and field team I was excited. Unfortunately, in middle school I couldn’t just participate in throwing events like discus and shot put, but running was worth it if that meant I could throw.

2.      Person/people most influential to your success in track & field?

My dad, Bruce Jacobsma, has been a big influence on my success in track and field. Ever since I started throwing he has created goals for me to reach. These goals aren’t unrealistic, but they push me. So far, there isn’t a goal I haven’t achieved.

Coach Nick Fynaardt has helped in my success as well. Coach is not my coach, but he was an All American when he threw at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, so I think he knows what he is talking about when it comes to throwing discus and shot put. Coach has dedicated tremendous amounts of his time to help me improve in the off-season.  If you are to look at the videos of me from when we started working until now, you can see a giant difference.

Coach Joel Bundt has been the biggest influence to my success as an athlete. As the high school throws coach, he started to devote his time to my success before I was even in high school. When I was in middle school, he would allow me to come to some high school practices with him. He has continued to help me throughout high school. Not only does he coach me during the season, but he has helped me create off-season workouts to continue my growth.

3.      Your favorite track & field event(s)?

My favorite track and field event, hands down, is discus. I love the feeling you get from a big throw.

4.      Your track & field event coach(es)?

My coach is Joel Bundt. He works with all of us throwers. He has had a huge impact on me as a thrower. I believe that I would never have been as successful without him. Unlike other teams who don’t have a throws coach, we do. He is very smart in both throwing events. He is also growing in his knowledge of what is best for us. Coach Bundt always seems to be researching something or other just for us to improve.

5.       Keys to your successful track & field training program?

I think a huge part of our program is the coaching staff. I feel like every one of our coaches puts their all into our team 24/7. The other part of our success is the athletes. When I was a freshman our school added soccer to the athletics.  This has caused our track team to go down in numbers every year, but it has caused us who did stay to become better athletes. Our girls team alone has a great variety of athletes in every event. There may not be very many of us, but we want to excel in what we do.

      6.      Your favorite track & field meet(s)?

I don’t really have a favorite meet during the regular season. I’m sure most people would say the entire experience of State track is awfully exciting.  After qualifying for Drake last year, I can safely say there is something about the tradition and environment of the Bulldog stadium that makes those meets special.

7.      Track & field athlete(s) you most enjoy competing against?

When she was in high school my favorite athlete to compete against was Jackie Brungardt, a thrower from Storm Lake who was a couple of years older than I am. I also enjoyed the three years I spent with Lauren McDonald from MOC-FV. She is a year older than I am; we spent so many hours and experiences together, it is hard to imagine a season without her by my side.

8.      Most memorable experience in track & field so far?

Definitely the most memorable experiences of my track and field years have not actually come from my events themselves. It is the friendships and traditions we build together that make it all so good. I have loved every trip to the State meets and Drake; we have another great experience every trip to Des Moines. We have created some great traditions, too, like Scooby Snack Graham Snacks dunked in frosting and tailgate grilling with the other throwers after meets when I was an underclassman.  The popsicle breaks during the hottest spring practices will always be a fond memory.

9.      Greatest accomplishment(s) in track & field so far?

My greatest accomplishment is probably being a, hopefully, four year state meet qualifier. It was very exciting to break the middle school throwing records of Rachel Jansen, an MOC-FV grad and college and Olympic try out thrower. I am still gunning for her high school records! I was proudest of the discus throw that broke 140’ for the first time of my career.

10. Goals for the 2013 track & field season?

One of my goals in this season is to continue to improve and perfect my throwing. I have a goal to not only qualify for Drake Relays but to make it to finals and place as well.  Of course the State meet participation, placing, and maybe even breaking the record is looming out there, too.

11. If a senior, college/university you will attend, or schools you are considering?

I am going to college at South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD.  I will continue my throwing career there as I study animal science and pre-veterinarian medicine.

      12.  Long-term goals in track & field? 

I intend to throw in college successfully enough to help pay my tuition bill and maybe break some records there, too.

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See Brook’s IOWATFXC.COM webpage at https://ia.milesplit.com/athletes/1554662-brook-jacobsma .